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Prospects Butler, Gray among Rockies' invitees

2014 MLB.com Top Prospects: Eddie Butler has the potential to have three-plus pitches with his fastball, slider and changeup

By Thomas Harding
/
MLB.com |

DENVER -- Top right-handed pitching prospects Eddie Butler and Jon Gray highlight the list of 24 non-roster players the Rockies announced on Tuesday have been invited to Major League camp.

The 24 invitees -- including several players with Major League experience -- give the Rockies a total of 64 players in camp. Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 15, with their first workout on Feb. 17. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 23.

Butler, a supplemental first-round pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft who pitched for Class A Asheville, Class A Advanced Modesto and Double-A Tulsa last year, and Gray, who pitched at Rookie-level Grand Junction and Modesto last season, are ranked among the MLB.com's Top 100 prospects. Gray, out of the University of Oklahoma, is ranked No. 14, and Butler, out of Radford University, is ranked No. 41.

The non-roster pitchers with Major League experience are righties Manuel Corpas (Rockies and Cubs), Nick Masset (Rangers, White Sox and Reds) and Greg Burke (Padres and Mets), and left-hander Pedro Hernandez (White Sox and Twins). Also among the invitees is righty Chris Martin, who was acquired from the Red Sox with lefty Franklin Morales for infielder Jonathan Herrera on Dec. 18.

Michael McKenry, who was drafted by the Rockies in 2006 and made his debut with them in '10 before spending the last three seasons with the Pirates, and Matt McBride, who appeared in 31 games with Colorado in 2012, are the only non-roster catchers with big league experience. Also invited is Tom Murphy, a third-round pick in 2012 and one of the organization's top catching prospects.

Outfielder Jason Pridie (Twins, Mets, Phillies and O's) and infielder Paul Janish (Reds and Braves) are position players with Major League experience.